California man sentenced to 20 years in fatal ‘swatting’ in Kansas

(AP) A California man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a hoax call that led police to fatally shoot an unarmed Kansas man following a dispute between two people over $1.50 bet in a “Call of Duty: WWII” video game.

Twenty-six-year-old Tyler R. Barriss was sentenced Friday. He pleaded guilty in November to 51 charges related to fake calls and threats, the most serious one for making a false report resulting in a death. Officers who responded shot Andrew Finch, of Wichita, who opened the door at the former address of a gamer involved in the dispute.

Prosecutors sought a sentence of 25 years. The defense sought 20.

The case drew attention to the practice of “swatting,” a form of retaliation used by gamers and others get police to descend on an address.

Kansas authorities are dropping involuntary manslaughter and other state charges against Barriss.

Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett said Friday he will dismiss the state charges because Barriss would be getting more prison time in the federal case than in state court.

Finch’s sister, Dominica Finch, says Barriss got what he deserved. The family wants to see police also be held accountable. Finch was unarmed when an officer responding to a bogus kidnapping call shot him.

Barriss apologized to Finch’s family in court Friday. He said he takes full responsibility for what happened.